I didn't think "relocation" meant being plucked out of Huntley Corp like we'd overstayed our welcome. But that's exactly what it felt like, Adrian's men showing up in that quiet, coordinated way of his, like the decision had been made hours before anyone bothered to tell us.
The ride was silent except for Tess muttering under her breath about how she should've packed snacks if we were being kidnapped.
The Monarch wasn't just a building, it was an announcement. All glass and steel, gleaming like it didn't belong to the same planet as the cracked sidewalks below. Inside, it smelled faintly of polished marble and air-conditioned secrecy.
By the time the elevator doors slid open on the penthouse floor, my pulse had settled into something between awe and suspicion.
And then I saw our stuff.
Not just bags tossed in a corner, unpacked. My sweaters folded into neat stacks. My boots lined up, ready to be put in a closet I'd never stepped into. My toothbrush sitting in some cup like thing like it belonged on the marble sink. Someone had touched my things.
"Oh, no," Tess said, stepping in front of me. "This is rich people creepy. Like... did they go through our underwear?"
Before I could answer, a maid in crisp black and white appeared beside a tall, silver haired butler. They looked like they'd stepped straight out of an old movie, one where the rich have names like Count and Duchess.
"Ohhh, I could get used to this," Tess said, dragging her fingertips along the edge of the marble counter, checking for dust. She leaned close to me, her whisper hot against my ear. "Question is, do we pay for all this with cash, an organ, or are you gonna take one for the team and start dating him for the perks?"
I shoved her away lightly. "Behave."
"What?" she said, all wide eyed innocence. "If my best friend's gonna shack up with a criminal overlord, I want spa access."
The butler cleared his throat gently, either oblivious or pretending very hard to be. "If you'll follow me, ladies."
He led us down a short hallway. "Two bedrooms, both with walk-in closets. However, the master suite has a larger wardrobe space."
"Fitting," Tess said, shooting me a smirk. "Since someone here has more dresses than a soap opera wardrobe department."
I rolled my eyes and stepped into the master suite. The whole room seemed to breathe light, floor to ceiling windows spilling sunshine over polished hardwood. A balcony wrapped around the corner, complete with a small table and two chairs facing the skyline.
Tess leaned on the doorframe. "Okay, this is insane. If I disappear, I want my ashes scattered out there."
"You're not dying here," I said.
"Well, not unless they charge us rent," she shot back.
We moved into the lounge while the butler explained the imported furniture and curated art like we were about to buy the place. But his voice faded when Adrian walked in.
He didn't just enter, he claimed the room. Black suit, slow steps, eyes scanning like he already knew where we'd be standing.
"Thank you," he said to the butler without looking at him. The man vanished. The maid followed.
Adrian dropped into a leather armchair, arm stretched across the back like a king on his throne. "Marcus is back with his family. Be prepared for anything."
Tess's brow furrowed. I kept my face still.
"I need everything you know about Jessica," Adrian said.
Tess and I traded a glance before I spoke. "She's always wanted to marry rich. Love was never part of the equation. Status was. She'd do anything to keep it."
"Anything," Tess repeated. "If you told me she had a prenup written in blood, I'd believe it."
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "That's what I'm afraid of."
Tess tilted her head. "Are you richer than Marcus?"
Adrian's mouth curved slightly. "Depends on the day."
Tess grinned. "Then Jessica might try to upgrade. She's like a raccoon, goes after the shiniest thing."
Adrian smirked. "That could work in our favor. But I have other plans."
Tess's phone buzzed. "Don't sell the place before I get back," she told me, and slipped out to the balcony.
And just like that, it was only him and me.
I leaned against the back of the couch. "Did Marcus get an extra whipping before you sent him off?"
"No," Adrian said, voice low, steady. "But he deserved to die."
My jaw tightened. "You don't get to decide that."
His eyes met mine, unflinching. "They decided your fate. They were going to lock you up, use you for a child, and then... who knows what. You think I'm the bad guy?"
"I think you're dangerous," I said quietly.
He stood, the movement sharp enough to make me straighten. "Why are you still so sweet on him?"
"I'm not."
He gave a short, humorless laugh. "You are. Or maybe you just can't admit the man you loved is a monster."
Heat climbed my neck, but I held his gaze.
"Marcus has blood on his hands," Adrian said, stepping closer. "You think he's never pulled the trigger? You think he's never ordered someone dead? He will be back. And he will want revenge."
I didn't realize I'd taken a step toward him until the space between us was thin enough that I could feel the warmth from his body.
"And you're what?" I asked. "My savior?"
"I'm your best shot at a life where you can be yourself. I won't hide what I am. But don't," his voice dropped, "ever try to change me."
The tension between us thickened, humming in the air. His gaze flicked to my mouth, just once, and my breath caught.
I didn't move. Neither did he.
He leaned in, not enough to touch, but enough that I could feel the heat rolling off him. I could smell the faint mix of his cologne and something darker, sharper. My fingers curled against the couch cushion, the urge to reach for him almost painful.
For a heartbeat, I thought he'd close the distance. My pulse pounded, traitorous and loud.
Then he exhaled sharply and stepped back, like he'd just caught himself. Frustration flashed across his face before he masked it with that smooth, unreadable calm.
The door to the balcony clicked, and Tess came back in. Her eyes darted between us, narrowing. "Seriously? I leave for five minutes and I can feel the heat in here."
I opened my mouth, but she lifted a hand. "Gina, listen to me. You just got away from one dangerous man, and I'll forgive you for not knowing he was dangerous. Don't throw yourself at another, no matter how good his jawline is. You hear me?"
My face burned. Adrian's stayed unreadable, though something flickered in his eyes at Tess's words.
"Dinner will be sent up in an hour," he said, already moving for the door. He paused just before leaving, his voice dropping low enough that it was meant for me alone. "Eat."
And then he was gone.
The room felt bigger without him in it, but not emptier. More like the air had been cut open and hadn't stitched itself back together yet.
Tess sighed, dragging her hands through her hair. "Girl, I swear, if I have to play third wheel in a mobster romance, I want hazard pay."
I didn't answer. My chest was still tight, my pulse refusing to calm, and all I could think about was how close I'd come to wanting something I shouldn't.
The city glittered outside the glass, cold and beautiful. And I couldn't tell if I'd just been warned, protected, or claimed.